Automatic electrical heat-treating device



T. J. RICHARDS.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRICAL HEAT TREATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED M1625, 19m.

1,385,473, Patented July 26, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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Q L I A L I z W CH W J T. l. RICHARDS.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRICAL HEAT TREATING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.25,919.

1,385,473. Patented July 26, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRICAL HEAT-TREATING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 26, 1921.

Application filed August 25, 1919. Serial No. 319,571.

To all w/wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and Stateof Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in AutomaticElectrical Heat-Treating Devices, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to automatic electrical heat treating devices andhas for its principal object to measure temperature by direct expansionof the matter being heated electrically or otherwise.

Another object of my invention is to so arrange the device that thematter to be treated and measured will feed by gravity into the device,which has a quenching bath below the device into which the matter willtravel by gravity when released.

lVith these and other objects in view the invention consists in thenovel details of construction and combination of parts more fullyhereinafter disclosed and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a top View of the device.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the device.

Fig. 3 is a detail view showing diaphragm and connecting parts in avertical position.

Fig. 4: is a detail sectional view.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein one embodiment ofmy invention is illustrated: 1 designates any suitable base upon whichthe device rests. The electrodes 2 are cored for water circulation, heldin position by supporting members (See Fig. 1.) By referring to Fig. 1it will be seen that I have provided an intake water tube 41 and anoutlet water tube 5 which empties into an escape pipe 6.

In operating this device, the article to be heated to some desiredtemoeraturc is fed into the opening between the electrodes 2 by means ofa master controller 7.

The master controller 7 pulls down the arm 8 by means of a solenoid 9,thereby turning the screw 10 so as to firmly grip the matter to beheated between the electrodes 2.

This pressure exerted on the lever 11 causes the fluid in the diaphragm1.41 to rise in the tube 15. The master controller then opens the valve18 by means of a solenoid 17 which is timed for the operation. The fluidin the tube then flows back into a reservoir 19 until the fluid reachesa common level. The valve 18 is now automatically closed, therebysetting the device at zero. By the term zero is meant the fixed fluidlevel secured by opening of the valve 18.

The master controller 7 then turns on the electric current into theelectrodes 2, thereby causing the matter between the same to becomeheated.

By referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that I have provided a lever 11hinged at point 12, having on the side thereof a dog 13, which is heldagainst the electrode 2, which is opposite the electrode 2, which is incontact with the screw 10.

The heat produced in the matter between the electrodes 2 causes thematter held be tween them to expand, which forces the lever 11 so thatthe end of the same comes in contact with a diaphragm 1 1. Thisdiaphragm is filled with a fluid, preferably mercury. The outwardpressure of the lever 11 causes the diaphragm 1 1 to shorten,therebyforcing the mercury into the tube 15.

When the mercury reaches a predeter mined oint it comes in contact witha rod 20 pro ecting down into the upper end of the tube 15. This rod 20can be adjusted by means of a thumb screw 21. When the mercury reachesthis point 20, the circuit to the electrodes 2 is opened and a circuitcontact is made, whereby the master controller 7 acts on the solenoid24, thereby releasing the matter between the electrodes 2, and thematter travels by gravity into a quenching tank of any suitableconstruction.

In order to determine and control the current entering the electrodes 2a rheostat 22 is located in the circuit carrying the current to theelectrodes 2.

By referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that I have provided a coilspring 23 which holds the dog 13 against the electrode 2.

In treating a number of similar articles, the same operation isautomatically repeated, thereby securing an equal temperature of likearticles before releasing them into the quenching bath.

It will be readily understood that by this process, metals requiringtempering can be made uniform as to the heat subjected to them beforebeing released to the quenching bath.

While I have shown specific detail, I do not wish to be held to theexact construction shown in so far as compelled by the claim.

What I claim is In a device of the class described, the

combination of two support members, two water cooled electrodespositioned diametrically opposite each other and secured within saidsupport members, a screw member having one end registering with one ofsaid electrodes, a threaded opening centrally located in one of saidsupport members, an arm securely fastened to the other end of said screwmember, solenoids located under outer ends of said arm and connected toends of said arm, means for operating said solenoids, a lever pivoted toone of said support members, a dog formed on the side of said lever,said dog located so as to register with outer surface of an electrode, acoil spring; 15 positioned at outer end of above mentioned arm,substantially as described for the purpose set forth.

.In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

THOMAS J. RICHARDS.

Witnesses A. E. BURKY,

C. A. HARPMAN.

